– Holy shit, old man! Hahahahahaha! You did something ridiculous! – Evo laughed hysterically, disbelief flashing in his eyes as he looked at the sword.
– So? Tell me everything, come on, come on! – the dwarf demanded impatiently.
Evo sighed and nodded.
– Alright... but let me finish checking first.
[Notification!]
– Hm? – Evo frowned at the alert and went to check it.
But before he could see anything, everything changed abruptly.
In an instant, a series of events unfolded within Evo.
His body groaned, trembled, collapsed—and writhed in a primal, brutal pain.
His legs quivered, his breath grew weak.
His vision?... A blur.
Everything spun wildly.
He clutched himself as his body hit the floor, screaming in agony.
– AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! – a raw, animalistic scream echoed through the forge.
[System Alert: Anomaly Detected]
Origin: Execution Sword
Event: Authority Transfer Initiated...
Process: Inconsistent — bearer's spiritual limit exceeded.
Critical energy flow detected.
Accessing primary source: "Armageddon" — confirmed.
Verifying bearer compatibility...
Result: 0.03%.
– What the helllllllll?! What's happening?!
Evo rolled on the ground in agony, clutching his chest and stomach.
The dwarf ran toward him in panic, desperate to help.
– Boy! What happened?! – he shouted, holding Evo's trembling body, fear in his eyes.
[AUTHORITY AWAKENED — "ARMAGEDDON"]
"The bells of the end echo within the hearts of the living...
and the Bearer of Judgment carries the key to the End."
– Har! Har! Har! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Another roar tore from his lips as rivers of sweat streamed down his face and his breathing turned ragged.
Blood dripped from his mouth, his eyes begging for the torment to end.
A woman burst into the shop, rushing straight to the forge where Evo and the dwarf were.
– What's going on here, Ravisto?! – she demanded, firm yet trembling with concern as her gaze fell on Evo.
– D-di-director... I-I don't know! – the dwarf stammered, helpless, while the boy groaned on the floor.
Freya listened to his words, her expression hardening as she stared in shock at Evo's convulsing body.
The messages continued to flood the air like an unrelenting chorus, dragging him deeper into agony—as if his very soul were being crushed, broken, and erased.
『He who wields Judgment shall not fear the End.
For the End has already chosen him.』
『Thou art the bearer of Armageddon—
yet thy body remains frail, and thy soul, incomplete.
Sleep now, power forged for the bearer.
Wait until he can endure the weight of Judgment.』
– Hhhhkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk! J-just... s-stop, pleaseeee!!! – he gasped through the pain.
[Containment Force Activated]
Supreme Authority detected — initiating Full Sealing Process.
[Seals 1–7: Active]
[Status: SEALED]
Warning: Attempting access before the appointed time will result in soul collapse.
The inscriptions burned into his being, describing the beginning and the end, twisting inside his guts, setting his spirit ablaze.
– AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!Hah! Hah! Hah!
Freya rushed forward, wrapping her arms around him, trying to steady him, to understand what was happening.
Moments earlier, she had been in her office, sipping a drink in peace.
Then suddenly, her body shuddered with a cold chill—an ancient fear.
A terrible power had awakened somewhere in the academy.
Her glass slipped from her hand, shattering on the floor as sweat ran down her face.
– Damn... hahaha, something powerful is being born here.
She teleported straight to the shop entrance—and froze at the scene before her.
Looking at him convulsing on the floor, she murmured inwardly:
– I don't know what's awakening inside him, but... it's strong. Just being near him makes every danger alarm in my body scream. What could it be? – she smiled faintly. – How fascinating... hihihi. You never let me get bored, Ev.
The final message that marked the end of his torment flickered silently.
[Armageddon Authority has been sealed]
Current Status: Inactive
Overload Risk: Extreme
Next Reactivation: Unknown
Evo, still conscious but barely holding on, let out a faint sigh as his head fell against Freya's shoulder. She gently stroked his back, calming him.
– Seems like it's over... – she thought quietly.
– Miss Director, will my benefactor be alright?
Freya turned her gaze toward the man approaching with concern.
– Your benefactor? – she asked.
– Yes... this boy helped me a lot today. He gave me something I'd lost long ago – the dwarf said softly, a touch of melancholy in his voice.
– I see... – she glanced sideways at Evo, breathing faintly against her neck. – You do good things too, don't you, you rascal... – she mused with a faint smile.
– Don't worry. By tomorrow, he'll be good as new. I guarantee it.
The old man sighed in relief.
– Let me help you put his shirt back on, or he might catch a cold – Ravisto said, dressing Evo's limp, doll-like body.
Once finished, Freya nodded.
– Thank you for that.
– I'll take him to rest now, Ravisto. See you later.
She didn't wait for a reply.
Freya teleported with him back to her office, landing softly on the couch.
Evo lay against her, fast asleep.
She smiled gently, brushing his brown hair away from his eyes.
– Rest, Ev. – She leaned his head carefully onto the sofa.
She exhaled softly, reclining and staring at the ceiling.
– So... what was that, exactly? – she asked the empty room.
A translucent blue screen appeared before her.
[ THE # OF # IS SURPRISED BY WHAT THE BOY AWAKENED ]
– Hm? You know what it is?
[ THE # OF # SAYS SHE SUSPECTS SOMETHING, BUT CAN'T BE SURE ]
– Ohhh! Something you don't know? I'm impressed – she said mockingly.
[ THE # OF # FEELS OFFENDED BY YOUR MOCKERY AND SAYS THAT WHAT THE BOY HAS IS SOMETHING PERSONAL TO HIM ]
[ THE # OF # ADMITS SHE UNDERSTANDS A BIT OF ITS CONCEPT, BUT NOT ITS TRUE POWER ]
[ THE # OF # ADDS THAT ONLY HE TRULY KNOWS, FOR WHAT HE AWAKENED WAS CREATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR HIM. IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT ALREADY EXISTED. ]
Freya read the words, sighed, ran a hand through her hair, and turned to face him.
– I see... then... – she paused briefly before continuing.
– Do you think any of you had a hand in this? – she asked, looking at the boy sleeping beside her.
[ THE # OF # LAUGHS AND SAYS: WHO KNOWS? ]
– You know something, don't you? Why won't you tell me? – she teased, pouting playfully.
[ THE # OF # SAYS SHE CAN'T TELL YOU. SOMEONE WOULD GET FURIOUS. SHE GIGGLES. ]
– Ahhhhhhhh, fine... you're so annoying!
And thus, a day of strange and agonizing events came to an end...
While somewhere far away, a mischievous laugh echoed in amusement.
– Hihihihihi! He awakened something... interesting. It will help him greatly on his journey. Until the day we meet again... my beloved. – A sweet smile formed on the lips of the woman seated upon her throne, radiating bliss.